Black Philanthropy Initiative
Launched in 2007, the Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) serves as a model for rethinking philanthropy in Forsyth County’s Black community. Through engagement and encouragement, BPI educates people to utilize their philanthropic strengths of time, talent, and treasure to impact meaningful change and address identified needs in the Black community.
Leadership
The Black Philanthropy Initiative is led by a group of community volunteers who acknowledge the traditions of sharing in the Black community and seek to expand charitable giving through education and impact.
advisory committee
- Veronica Bitting
- Norma Corley
- Leroy Davis
1st Vice Chair / Treasurer, Advisory Committee - Robin Barksdale Ervin
- Shawan Gabriel
- Nicole Gentiles
- Robert Leak, III
Chair, Grants Committee - Dr. William Lewis
- Nicole Little
- Roshanda McCrimmon
Chair, Resource Development Committee - Brittany Norton
Chair, Community Engagement Committee - Mae Rodney
- Leslie Sadler
- Melvin Scales
Chair, Board & Governance Committee - Corlis Sellers
Chair, Advisory Committee - Michael (Mike) Silver
- Tiffany Waddell Tate
2nd Vice Chair, Advisory Committee - Bernadette (Bernie) Wallace
- Carrie M. Woods
Grants
The Black Philanthropy Initiative offers two types of grants.
Impact Grants
BPI’s Impact Grants are investments in local programs, projects, and initiatives that support issues impacting Black communities in Forsyth County. In particular, this program is looking to invest in Black-led organizations/groups with annual budgets of less than $150,000, recognizing that there are local groups/organizations doing impactful work that are newer and/or have smaller budgets than their counterparts.
How to Apply
The February 2021 grant cycle offers grants of up to $1,000. Read BPI’s Grant Guidelines and apply online through February 9 at midnight.
FEBRUARY 2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS
- Building Resources in Disadvantaged Groups Through Economic & Empowerment (BRIDGE) – $1,000 to collaborate with Winston-Salem State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship to promote financial literacy workshops to students and entrepreneurs.
- Hoops4L.Y.F.E – $1,000 to purchase materials for STEAM activities offered at afterschool and summer enrichment camps.
- Kimberly Park Tennis Association – $1,000 to provide financial assistance for tennis tournament fees for youth participants.
AUGUST 2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS
- Hope to Thrive – $5,000 to provide food and services to families of color that promote health and well-being
- Journee Bees Village – $5,000 to provide virtual financial education, social and emotional support, and career planning to young men
- Love Community Development Corporation – $5,000 to support senior volunteers offering virtual tutoring in reading for students in grades K-3
- The Wells Center Inc. – $1,800 to support a post-release program for formerly incarcerated women
- Winston-Salem African American Archive – $5,000 for educational presentations and tours featuring the history of the local African American community
- Masjid Al-Muminun – $5,000 for food basket distribution for families living in poverty and scholarships for students pursuing higher education
Equity in Education Grants
BPI’s traditional grantmaking round has a primary focus of Advancing Racial Equity in Education. In April 2020, BPI postponed its spring grant cycle, instead making direct investments to local schools to address equity issues around remote student learning, recognizing that technology and Internet access have become a heightened equity issue with the closing of schools.
For the November 2020 grant cycle, BPI requested proposals that work toward its focus area of Advancing Racial Equity in Education so that Black students and graduates can gain access, advance, and have the support needed to thrive. This focus area comes from the data in BPI’s 2018 Rethinking Philanthropy report, which reveals how systemic inequities have disproportionately affected the Black population in Forsyth County.
BPI will offer another Equity in Education grant cycle in 2021.
APRIL 2020 Grant Recipients
- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools – $10,000 to provide resources for students to fully engage in remote learning
- Quality Education Academy – $5,000 to provide resources for students to fully engage in remote learning
- Carter G. Woodson School – $5,000 to provide resources for students to fully engage in remote learning
NOVEMBER 2020 Grant Recipients
- LEAD Girls of NC Inc – $10,000 to help middle school girls boost literacy and develop critical social and emotional skills
- My Brother's Second Chance – $10,000 to provide direct services and support to students of color and their families
- Neighborhood's Hands – $10,000 to provide tutoring support for elementary students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
- Sherman Academy Inc – $10,000 for a parent mentor program and culturally-responsive math and reading materials
- St. Paul United Methodist Church – $5,000 to support a remote learning site providing services to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools students
- The Dream Team Foundation, Inc – $10,000 to support a remote learning site providing services to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools students
- Triad Cultural Arts, Inc – $5,000 to support a mentoring program focused on literacy for 3rd grade African-American boys
